Man arrested in Beckley Little General armed robbery

BECKLEY - A Raleigh County man is behind bars two weeks after police say he robbed a Beckley Little General store.

Douglas Gregory Hill Jr., 29, turned himself in to the Beckley Police Department Monday afternoon after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Police said he robbed the store in Nell Jean Square just off Robert C. Byrd Drive on July 16. The Beckley Police Department Said he told the cashier he had a gun in his pocket, but never pulled it out. Hill Jr. was out on parole at the time of his arrest. He now faces a first-degree robbery charge.

Det. Will Pannell, with Beckley Police, talked about why gas stations and convenient stores usually fall victim to crimes of this nature.

"Most of the time, when they are targeted, it is early morning hours or late at night," Det. Will Pannell said. "Sometimes I guess suspects -- they'll see that the parking lots are empty, which may lead them to believe that no one's in the store, and they think it's a good opportunity to rob it at the time."

Beckley Police told Newswatch they've been combating the usual amount of crime that comes with the summer season.